Renter's Guide to St. Louis

St. Louis, Missouri is the second-largest city in Missouri, about the same size as Cincinnati, Ohio. About equidistant from Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Nashville, St. Louis is located at four hours’ drive from these cities. Nicknamed the Gateway to the West, the city is known worldwide for the iconic Gateway Arch that commemorates the westward expansion of the US through the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. Today, the city is one of the Best Cities for Hockey Fans according to a WalletHub report, and is also home to the St. Louis Cardinals MLB team.

St. Louis was ranked as one of the top cities for college graduates based on the number of job opportunities, things to do and quality of life in general.

St. Louis boasts the second largest amount of free visitor attractions in the continental U.S.—outran only by Washington, D.C.—, making it very welcoming for family vacationers and adventurers on a budget.

In the summer, the temperature reaches a high average of 89ºF with high humidity levels and no dry season. In the winter, the temperature reaches a low average of 21ºF with the lowest amount of rainfall for the city averaging 2.14 inches.

Saint Louis, MO Demographics

Total Population926,121

Female440,572

Male485,548

Median Age36.4

Cost of Living in St. Louis, MO

A regular bus fare in St. Louis costs $2.00 for an adult, while children under the age of 5 ride free with a fare-paying adult. Reduced fares are offered (proof may be requested) for children between the ages of 5 and 12, for seniors aged 65+, and for customers with disabilities.

St. Louis offers both a bus system and a metro transit system, helping the city to reach a below-average commute time of about 23 minutes.

St. Louis County & Yellow Cab offers over 250 taxicabs, and there are several other taxi services in the city, making it moderately easy to find a cab in the city.

Hungry? Prices for a meal for two at mid-range restaurants in St. Louis range between $35 and $65 and average out at about $50, while a regular cappuccino costs $3.75 on average.

For the utilities in a 915-square-foot apartment, St. Louis residents pay around $144, which is slightly lower than the national average of $147.

Average Rent in Saint Louis, MO

Saint Louis, MO Average Rental Price, January 2019$943/mo

Saint Louis, MO Apartment Rent Ranges

< $5003%

$501-$70032%

$701-$1,00035%

$1,001-$1,50021%

$1,501-$2,0006%

> $2,0003%

Saint Louis, MO Rent Trends

Average Rent

Jan / 2016

May / 2016

Sept / 2016

Jan / 2017

May / 2017

Sept / 2017

Jan / 2018

May / 2018

Jan / 2019

Saint Louis, MO

$871

$884

$883

$890

$909

$911

$924

$926

$943

National

$1,290

$1,319

$1,334

$1,329

$1,354

$1,366

$1,366

$1,381

$1,396

/

Average rent is projected to grow by 3% in 2018 compared to 2017.

Please note that projected rent growth is calculated at city level.

Average rent values on this page are aggregated from data from the following zip codes: 63101631026310363104631056310663107631086310963110631116311263113631146311563116631176311863119631206312163122631236312463125631266312763128631296313063131631326313363134631356313663137631386313963140631416314363144631466314763155

Living in Saint Louis

Despite the large percentage of middle-aged inhabitants, the St. Louis nightlife offers plenty of options that cater to the young population, mainly for those in their twenties. Finally, the general cost of living is lower than in many other places in the state and elsewhere, making it easy to enjoy the city on a budget.

However, there are also a few disadvantages of living in St. Louis. St. Louis ranked as one of the worst cities to raise a family due to poorly performing public schools and the small number of children under the age of eighteen living in the city.

St. Louis’ job growth lags other U.S. cities despite 2016 being its best year in this regard since 2006, and its reputation as a good place for college graduates to settle.

Although the number of crimes in St. Louis has been on a slow decline since 2011, the city has consistently been named one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. due to its above-average crime rates both in the city and in the wider metropolitan area.

Things to do in St. Louis

New residents will find a lot of interesting and unique things to do in St. Louis. One of the first things you should do is to check out the St. Louis Gateway Arch—built as a memorial to President Thomas Jefferson, the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark’s historic expedition.

The St. Louis Zoo is always a great place to go for a Sunday outing. Named one of the nation’s best zoological parks, it showcases more than 18,000 wild animals.

You will never tire of the number of museums in the city either. For example, if you are a dog lover, be sure to also check out the St. Louis Museum of the Dog, the world’s only museum that is dedicated exclusively to man’s best friend.

Sports activities abound in St. Louis too. Going to a ball game in St. Louis is more than just going to Busch Stadium and see the Cardinals play. You can grab a drink before the game at the first-of-its-kind Ballpark Village just north of the stadium, then get settled in the 47,000-seat stadium for an enjoyable night of baseball.

Visiting the historic Union Station is another truly unique St. Louis experience—after ceasing railroad operations, the station reopened in 1985 as one of St. Louis’ best places to eat, drink, and shop.

Some of the biggest annual events in St. Louis include The Loop Ice Carnival, the St. Louis Earth Day Festival, and the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival.

Bringing the family to Carondelet Park, Tower Grove Park, Forest Park, Longview Farm, or Downtown’s Citygarden Park in are some of the best things to do with kids in St. Louis.

Employment & Economy in Saint Louis

St. Louis is home to 19 Fortune 1000 companies, including the brewing company Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., and the original location of Panera Bread (known there as the St. Louis Bread Co.) - one of the city’s three fastest-growing national companies. St. Louis is also active in the manufacturing sector as well as the base for numerous national insurance and brokerage firms.

Saint Louis, MO Households

Total Number of Households389,919

Family220,718

Non-family169,201

Children105,315

No Children284,605

Average People Per Household2.38

Median Household Income$40,685

Median Housing Costs Per Month$861

Top Colleges in St. Louis

Continuing your education will not be a problem when living in St. Louis.

Saint Louis, MO Education Statistics

No High School3%

Some High School32%

Some College24%

Associate Degree6%

Bachelor Degree20%

Graduate Degree14%

Tips for Renting in St Louis

If you are looking to move to St. Louis from Chicago, one of the first things you will notice is the amount of space. The population density, even downtown, is much lower. Moving to St. Louis from New York or California, you will notice that life runs at a much slower pace on the banks of the Mississippi River.

In St. Louis, landlords are required to give at least a 60-day notice to terminate the tenancy of a year-to-year leasing contract. Similarly, month-to-month leases require written notice at least one month prior.

If the lease has been violated in any way, however, St. Louis landlords are permitted to give notice as late as only ten days before the move-out day.

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